Portable burglar-alarm.



T. P. AMBROSE. I PpRTABLE BURGLAR ALARM.

APPLICATION FlLED NOV. 8. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

mun" mun n j W itto neg.

ATET o. ion.

THGMAS LP. AMBRosnor CINCINNATI, onro.

PORTABLE BURGLAR-A'LARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Application filed November 8, 1915. Serial No. 60,193.

To all whom;- it may concern Be it knownthat I, THOMAS P. AMB OSE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamil- I ton and State of Ohio, have invented cer My invention consists in the combination of parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will herein be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig; 3 is a side elevation ofthe same applied to window sashes with the sashes closed, the parts of the sashes being shown in section;

Fig. 1 is a similar view showing the device applied to the sashes, with the sashes open; and.

Fig. 5 is adetail rear view of the engaging slide.

My improved burglar alarm, as exempliw tied herein, is of that kind in which the sound-producing device is a bell operated by clock-work mechanism. body 1 containing the main spring 2- which is the motive means for the operating means or mechanism 3 on top of the body and under the gong at, which gong is supported on the central stud 5, and which is struck by the hammer or clapper 6, operated by the operating mechanism. This bell is constructed in a well known manner so that the stud 5 will turn with the gong 45 to wind up the main spring 2.

Normally, the hammer'or clapperfl'and its operating meansis held inoperative by the upper end of a yieldable detent 7 mounted on the inner side of the shell of the body 1 and extending through the top of the body and engaging on the inner side of the. stem of the hammer or clapper '6. Fixed to this yieldable detent and extending laterally out- It comprises the.

ward'throughthe side of the shell of the body 1 is a stud 8 which, when pressed inwardly, presses the detent 7 inwardly and releases the hammer or clapper '6 and allows it to be vibrated by theclock-work mechanism under the action of the main spring 2.

The mounting for the device will now be described. The body 1 has, secured to the center of its bottom, legs 9 formed of a flat strip, the middle of which forms the connecting part of the body 1, and which strip is bent down in both directions from its middle so that the two legs 9 extend laterally and downward at a low angle'and have their lower ends or feet resting upon the upper side of a fiat spring 10, which in turn is secured to a base 11 which has two lugs 12 extending up, with the fiat spring'lO bearing upon them and with screws 13 passing up from the lower side of the base 11 through the'fiat spring into the lower ends or feet of the legs 9. The base 11 is formed "of a flat strip, and the lugs 12 are formed on it by perforating this strip and pressing the material up in making the perforations, so

that the interiors of the lugs are hollow, and

these inclose the heads of the screws 13, leaving the under side of the strip unob structed. The flat strip has its end parts bent down, and its rear end part is cut away in the middle so that the bent-down end parts form two laterally disposed prongs l l with a space between them; and the bentdown front end part forms a flange 15 with a lug 16 pressed inwardly and threaded and receiving a clamping screw 17 which has on its outer or front end a knurled head 18, and has onits inner or rear end a bearing plate 19. The screw 17 preferably has a ball 20 formed on its inner end which fits into a socket'in the bearing plate 19, so that the bearing plate 19 may swivel universally on the end of the screw 17. Thus constructed, the base 11 may be placed down on the top of a sash, such as the lower sash 21 in Figs. 3 and 4:, with the prongs 14: passing down along the rear or outer side of the sash; and then the clamping screw 17 may be screwed inward with the bearing plate 19 against the inner side of the sash, The universal adjustment of the bearing plate allowed by this mounting on the screw 17 will avoid marring of the surface of the inner side of the sash due to any irregularity of fitting of the apparatus to the sash. The base 11 is preferably made amply long as shown, with an amply long clamping screw 17, so that it will fit sashes or doors or other parts of closures of maximum and minimum thickness.

The rear end part of the flat spring 10 extends back past the bell to the vicinity of the rear prongs lt and is there bent upward at an ample radius, forming an upstanding resilient support or spring 22 for the operating lever 23, which is rigidly secured to this support 22, as by the screws 24: above and below. The upper end part of this lever 28 extends somewhat above the top of the bell and rearwardly therefrom to form a thumb piece, and the lower end part extends down about as far as the lower ends of the prongs 1s. The support or spring 22 and the lever 23 have perforations which come into alinement and leave an opening 25 opposite the end of the stud 8 that releases the bell-ringing mechanism, so that inward movement of the lever 23 and its support 22 will only result in the passing of this opening 24: over the end of the stud 8, and thus prevent the ringing of the bell through this operation of the lever 23. The support 22 and the flat spring 10 of which it forms part, are so formed that the lever 23 will normally have this position with the stud 8 extending into the opening 25 when the alarm is not in use. The lower end part of the lever 28, extending down as before described, is bent out ward or backward slightly, so that it stands some distance outside thespace between the prongs 14 of the base 11 when the lever 23 has its above described normal position, this end part thus forming the retaining prong 26 of the lever 23.

The screws 24: have their heads spaced away from the front of the lever support 22. An en aging slide 27, has lower and upper slots 28 and 29, respectively, around the screws 2% so that it can slide up and down on the lever support. When the lever 23 and its support 22 are in their normal position as above described, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this engaging slide 27 will be slid up on the lever and support so that its slot 28 registers with the opening 25; the upper edge of the slot 28 resting down upon the upper side of the stud 8 when the stud 8 projects into the opening 25. Preferably, this engaging slide 27 has its upper end bent to form a thumb piece as shown, for graspit for sliding it up and down on the lever support.

Constructed as above described, and mounted upon the lower sash 21 as above described, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 1, when the upper sash .30 is pushed up and the lower sash 21 pushed down so that their meeting rails come together as is usual in the closing of a window, the upper end of the lever 23 will be pushed outwardly or rearwardly, bringing its retaining prong 26 the bending of the flat spring 10 in theis bent upward to form as before described, and

will constiregion where it the support 22 the resiliency of this spring tute the means to automatically bring the lever and this support back to the normal position above described and bring the engaging means or slide 27 into engaging position whenever the retaining prong 2G is released so that itmay move backward from the space between the prongs 1 1. With the prong 26 between the parts of the closure, it is practically impossible to displace it by any instrument inserted between the parts from the outside.

l/Vhen the upper end ofthe lever 23 and its support 22 are held backward asabove described, by insertion of the prongs between the sashes, the engaging slide 27 will slide down under the action of gravity, so that its part between its slots 28 and 29 is over the opening 25 ready to engage with the end of the stud 8. Thus the alarm will be set and held by the engagement of the sashes. Since the engaging slide is on the side of the lever support away from the space between the sashes, and the retaining prong 26 is flanked by the prongs 1d of the base, it will be difficult to insert any instrument between the two sashes in any such position as will enable such instrument to be used to push the engaging slide 27 upward away from the end of the stud 8. Therefore, the alarm will be amply proof against tampering from the outside by any person understanding the operation of the alarm.

As soon as the meeting rails of the sashes 21 and 30 separate, either due to pulling down the upper sash 30 or raising the lower sash 21, the retaining prong 26 will be released, and the flat spring 10 will pull its upstanding part or lever support 22 and the lever 23 mounted thereon inward; and the inner side of the engaging slide 27, engaging with the end of the. stud 8, will push this stud inward and release the mechanism of the bell as hereinbefore described, permitting the bell to ring continuously either until it has run down or until the engaging slide 27 has been manually raised above and away from the end of the stud 8. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 4.

By providing the engaging slide 27 so that it may be pushed up away from the stud 8, it is very convenient to render the alarm inoperative where it is desired to open the window. Therefore, unnecessary ringing and running down of the bell are avoided. The bell may be made to ring for a considerable length of time when once set off. Therefore, the apparatus is practically equal in this respect to an electrical burglar alarm; and since it may be made to ring amply loud, it will serve to give an alarm at a considerable distance from the'bell without the necessity of installing wires and batteries and electric bells as in an electric burglaralarm system, where the alarm is to be given at only moderate distances from the point of attempted entrance. Furthermore, in a great many cases, the usefulness of the alarm is chiefly to frighten away the burglar, and, in this respect, my improved alarm will serve efiiciently, especially if the burglar receives the impression that it is an electric burglar-alarm system which might lead directly to a watchmans or policemans station.

Being all mounted on a single mounting, which is very readily attached to and detached from the sash or door or the like, the device is thoroughly portable; and is thus very suitable, not only for householders for permanent installation, but may be carried by travelers and installed at the various places where they may be. Whenever the device is removed from the window or door, it may be easily rendered inoperative by sliding the engaging slide 27 upward so that the bell, once wound up, need not be rewound until it has given an alarm. At the same time, in placing the alarm in use, it is necessary only to press backward on the upper part or thumb piece of the lever 28 for inserting its retaining prong 26 along with the base prongs l4c between the two sashes; whereupon the engaging slide 27 will automatically come into position to render the device operative upon release of the lever 23 as above described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a sound-producing device, operating means for the sound-producing device, motive means for the operating means, movable means to render the operating means inoperative, a mounting for the sound-pro ducing device whereby it may be attached to one of two parts of a closure, engaging means to engage with and move the means that renders the operating means inoperative and thus render the operating means operative, an extension from this engaging means to extend, at a material angle to the direction of movement of said means that renders the operating means inoperative, between the two parts and to engage with the other part of the closure and hold the engaging means out of engaging position, and a movable support for said engaging means and said extension, on said mounting, adapted to automatically bring said engaging means into engaging position when said extension disengages from said other part of the closure.

2. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a sound-producing device, operating means for the sound producing device, motive means for the operating means, movable means to render the operating means inoperative, a mounting for the sound-producing device whereby it may be attached to one of two parts of a closure, engaging means to engage with and move the means that renders the operating means inoperative and thus render the operating means operative, an extension from said engaging means toextend, at a material angle to the direction of movement of said means that renders the operating means inoperative, between the two parts and to engage with the other part of the closure and hold the engaging means out of engaging position, and a movable support for said engaging means and said extension, on said mounting, adapted to automatically bring said engaging means into engaging position when said extenslon disengages from said other part of the closure, said engaging means being movable with respect to said extension, whereby itis adapted to be held out of position for engagement for rendering said operating means operative, so that when said engaging means is so held, said extension may disengage from said other part of the closure without rendering the operating means operative.

3. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a sound-producing device, operating means for the sound-producing device, motive means for the operating means, and means to render the operating means inoperative,a mounting for the sound-producing device whereby it may be attached to one part of a closure, engaging means to engage with the means that renders the operating means inoperative and thus render the operating means operative, an extension from this engaging means to engage with another part of the closure and hold the engaging means out of engaging position, means to automatically bring this engaging means into engaging position when said extension disengages from said other part of the closure, said engaging means being movable with respect to said extension, whereby it is adapted to be held out of position for engagement for rendering the operating means operative, so that, when said engaging means is so held, Said extension may disengage from said other part of the closure without rendering the operating means operative, and means on said mounting, flanking said extension, to guard against moving of said movable engaging means by van instrument inserted between the parts of the closure.

l. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a sound-producing device, operating means for the sound-producing device, motive means for the operating means, and movable means to render the operating means inoperative, a mounting for the sound-producing device whereby it may be attached to one part of a closure, engaging means to engage with and move the means that renders the operating means inoperative and thus render the operating means operative, an extension from this engaging means extending, at a material angle to the line of movement oi said means that renders the operating means inoperative, alongside of and to engage with another part oi the closure and hold the engaging means out of engaging position, and means to automatically bring this engaging means into engaging position when said extension disengages from said other part of the closure, said engaging means being remote from said extension and movable with respect thereto, whereby it is adapted to be held out of position for engagement for rendering the operating means operative, so that, when said engaging means is so held, said extension may disengage from said other part of the closure without rendering the operating means operative.

5. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a sound-producing device, operating means tor the sound-producing device, motive means for the operating means, and movable means to render the operating means inoperative. a mounting for the sound-producing device whereby it may be attached to one part of a closu e, engaging means to engage with and move the means that renders the operating means inopera tive and thus render the operating means operative, an extension from this engaging means extending, at a material angle to the line of movement of said means that renders the operating means inoperative, alongside of and to engage with another part of the closure and hold the engaging means out of engaging position, means to automatically bring the disengaging means into engaging position when said extension disengages from said other part of the closure, said engaging means being remote from said extension and movable with respect thereto, whereby it is adapted to be held out of position for engagement for rendering the operating means operative, so that, when said engaging means is so held, said extension may disengage from said other part of the closure without rendering the operating means operative, and means on said mounting, flanking said extension, to guard against manipulation of said movable engaging means by an instrument inserted between the parts of the closure.

6. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a sound-producing device, operating means for the sound-producing devlce, motive means for the operating means, movable means to render the operating means inoperative, a mounting for the sound-producing device whereby it may be attached to one of two parts of a closure, engaging means to engage with and move the means that renders the operating means inoperative and thus render the operating means operative, an extension from this engaging means to extend, at a material angle to the direction of movement of said means that renders the operating means inoperative, between the two parts and engage with the other part of the closure, and hold the engaging means out of engaging position, and a resilient support for said engaging means and said extension, on said mounting, adapted to automatically bring said engaging means into engaging position when said extension disengages from said other part of the closure.

7. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a bell comprising a body and a gong, and ringing means for the gong, means to hold the ringing means inoperative, a stud on this means, a mounting for said body whereby it may be mounted upon a part oi a closure, a fiat spring extending from under said body and up past said stud, a lever fixed on said flat spring and having an extension to be engaged by another part of the closure when the closure is closed, whereby said lever is pulled with its fiat spring away from said stud, and means moving with said spring and said lever to engage with said stud and render said ringing means opera tive when said extension is released from said engagement with said other part of the closure, said engagement being efl'ected under the action of said spring on which said lever is mounted.

8. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a bell comprising a body and a gong, and ringing means for the gong, means to hold the ringing means inoperative, a stud on this means, a mounting for said body whereby it may be mounted upon a part of a closure, a flat spring extending from under said body and up past said stud, a lever fixed on said flat spring and having an extension to be engaged by another part of the closure when the closure is closed, and thereby to pull said lever and its flat spring away from said stud, and an engaging slide mounted to slide on said spring and said lever, said spring and said lever having an opening opposite said stud which the stud enters if said engaging slide is held away from said opening when said extension is disengaged from said other part of the closure, but said engaging slide being slidable over said opening to engage with said stud upon said disengagement and thereby aetthrough said stud to render said ringing mechanism operative.

9. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a bell comprising a body and a gong, and ringing means for the gong, means to hold the ringing means inoperative, a stud on this means, a mounting by it may be mounted upon a part of a closure, a fiat spring extending from under said body and up past said stud, a lever fixed on said flat spring and having an extension to be engaged by another part of the closure when the closure is closed and thereby to pull said lever and its flat spring away from said stud, an engaging slide mounted to slide on said spring and said lever, said spring and said lever having an opening opposite said stud which the stud enters if said engaging slide is held away from said opening when said extension is disengaged from said other part of the closure, but said engaging slide being slidable over said opening to engage with said-stud upon said disengagement and thereby act through said stud to render said ringing mechanism operative, and means on said mounting, flanking said extension, to guard against sliding of said engaging slide by engagement of an instrument inserted between said parts of the closure.

10. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a bell comprising a body and a gong, and ringing means for the gong, means to hold the ringing means inoperative, a stud on this means, a mounting for said body whereby it may be mounted upon a part of a closure, a fiat spring extending from under said body and up past said stud, a lever fixed on said flat spring and having an extension to be engaged by another part of the closure when the closure is closed, and thereby to pull said lever and its flat spring away from said stud, and an engaging slide mounted to slide on said spring and said lever, said spring and said lever having alined openings opposite said stud, and said for said body whereslide having an opening and being adapted to be held with its opening alined with the openings in said'spring and said lever, which openings the stud enters when said extension is disengaged from said other part of the closure, but said engaging slide when not held, sliding on said spring and lever and withdrawing its opening from said alinement and said stud, so that, upon said disengagement, it acts through said stud to render said ringing mechanism operative.

11. In a burglar alarm, in combination with a bell comprising a body and a gong, and ringing means for the gong, means to hold the ringing means inoperative, a stud on this means, a mounting for said body whereby it may be mounted upon a part of a closure, a fiat spring extending from under said body and up past said stud, a lever fixed on said flat spring and having an extension to be engaged by another part of the closure when the closure is closed, and thereby to pull saidlever and its flat spring away from said stud, an engaging slide mounted to slideon said spring and said lever, said spring and said lever having alined openings opposite said stud, and said slide having an openingand being adapted to be held with its opening alined with the openings in said spring and said lever, which openings the stud enters when said extension is disengaged from said other part of the closure, but said engaging slide when not held, sliding on said spring and lever and withdrawing its opening from said alinement and said stud, so that, upon said disengagement, it acts through said stud to render said ringing mechanism operative, and means on said mounting, flanking said extension, to guard against sliding of said engaging slide by engagement of an instrument inserted between said parts of the closure.

THOMAS P. AMBROSE. Witnesses:

IRENE PARKER, CLARENCE PERDEW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

